Food is magical: It can unite a community, a city, and even a country. The lack of it can change the course of history. Growing it can bring peace of mind, both in the act of touching the soil and in the knowledge that you have the ability to feed yourself and your loved ones, […]
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Posted inLife and Culture
5 reasons everyone should garden
1. Fresh food is just outside your door When cooking a meal, I can say, “I’m out of onion. I’ll be right back.” Then I grab a basket and walk to my garden. You have to admit that’s pretty cool, and gives a whole new meaning to “Eat Local.” 2. Everyone wants you for their […]
Posted inLife and Culture
If you give a woman a chainsaw
If you give a woman a chainsaw… She will likely ask for an ax, as well. And if you give her an ax, she’ll want to split firewood. If she splits firewood, she’ll need a way to move it to the house, so she’ll ask for a wheelbarrow. When she uses the wheelbarrow to move […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Seed saving in a few easy steps
The weather is growing cooler, which puts me in the mood for the two most important joys of fall: Pumpkin-Spice-Everything and seed saving. Ok, mostly seed saving. As I’ve openly admitted, I’m a seed hoarder. I’ve been told that I’m a carrier of the seed-hoarding sickness, as well, since I’ve managed to infect more than […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Preserving the harvest, Part 2: Dehydrating isn’t just for mummies
Dehydrating is great for anything: fruits, veggies, meats, and mummies. They may take a little extra water and cooking time for rehydration, but the fresh taste is worth it. Except for mummies, which never rehydrate properly. As I mentioned in a previous column, we were hit by severe storms one summer that knocked out the […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Preserving the harvest, part I: Don’t be afraid to can
So now that you’ve started seeds, planted a garden, harvested some veggies, and made every fresh dish imaginable, what do you do with the excess? By now, you’ve alienated the majority of your friends and family because they know it’s you that leaves piles of produce on their porch, attracting fruit flies and raccoons, simply […]
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So you think you are ready for the zombie apocalypse?
Yes, I know that’s an eye-roller, but the chill in the air this week has me thinking about winter, stocking up, and prepping. No, not the kind of prepping that will land me on a reality TV show, hoarding cheese and gold bars, but the kind of prepping that means being ready for the winter, […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Ah, to-may-toes, at last
I say to-may-toe, you say to-mah-toe. Let’s call the whole thing delicious. At long last, the tomatoes are ripening. That time between that first big green tomato and that first ripe one seems interminable. And then, boom, tomatoes are piling up all over the kitchen. Around here, we love tomato season. It’s a cornucopia of […]
Posted inLife and Culture
The hummingbird and the Windows of Doom
People who live in glass houses…see a lot of unconscious birds. Our home is a lodge-style dwelling with large windows – a lot of them. It’s the dream home for someone like me that can’t stand being cooped up, but it’s a nightmare for birds. I know there are stickers and things to help birds […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Life lessons from Mary Poppins
Every now and again, even us plain ol’ country folk get dressed up and venture into society for a bit of culture. Yes, I can leave the flannel shirts and camo pants at home and squeeze myself into a pair of tights and a dress. I draw the line at heels, though, unless they are […]